{"collection":"Samyutta Nikaya","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/suttacentral_sn1.38/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/suttacentral_sn1.38","id":"suttacentral_sn1.38","license":"CC0","rights_basis":"suttacentral_bilara_data_cc0","source":"suttacentral","source_url":"https://suttacentral.net/sn1.38/en/sujato","summary":null,"tags":["Early Buddhist Texts","Samyutta Nikaya"],"text":"So I have heard. At one time the Buddha was staying near R\u0101jagaha in the Maddakucchi deer park. Now at that time the Buddha\u2019s foot had been cut by a wooden splinter. The Buddha was stricken by harrowing pains; physical feelings that were painful, sharp, severe, acute, unpleasant, and disagreeable. But he endured unbothered, with mindfulness and situational awareness. And then he spread out his outer robe folded in four and laid down in the lion\u2019s posture\u2014on the right side, placing one foot on top of the other\u2014mindful and aware. Then, late at night, seven hundred glorious deities of the host of a hundred felicities, lighting up the entire Maddakucchi, went up to the Buddha, bowed, and stood to one side. Standing to one side, one deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha\u2019s presence: \u201cThe ascetic Gotama is such an elephant, sir! And as an elephant, he endures painful physical feelings that have come up\u2014sharp, severe, acute, unpleasant, and disagreeable\u2014unbothered, with mindfulness and situational awareness.\u201d Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha\u2019s presence: \u201cThe ascetic Gotama is such a lion, sir! And as a lion, he endures painful physical feelings \u2026 unbothered.\u201d Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha\u2019s presence: \u201cThe ascetic Gotama is such a thoroughbred, sir! And as a thoroughbred, he endures painful physical feelings \u2026 unbothered.\u201d Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha\u2019s presence: \u201cThe ascetic Gotama is such a boss bull, sir! And as a boss bull, he endures painful physical feelings \u2026 unbothered.\u201d Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha\u2019s presence: \u201cThe ascetic Gotama is such a behemoth, sir! And as a behemoth, he endures painful physical feelings \u2026 unbothered.\u201d Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha\u2019s presence: \u201cThe ascetic Gotama is truly tamed, sir! And as someone tamed, he endures painful physical feelings \u2026 unbothered.\u201d Then another deity expressed this heartfelt sentiment in the Buddha\u2019s presence: \u201cSee, his immersion is so well developed, and his mind is so well freed\u2014not leaning forward or pulling back, and not held in place by forceful suppression. If anyone imagines that they can overcome such an elephant of a man, a lion of a man, a thoroughbred of a man, a boss bull of a man, a behemoth of a man, a tamed man\u2014what is that but a failure to see?\u201d \u201cLearned in the five branches of Vedic lore, brahmins practice fervent mortification <j>for a full century. But their minds are not properly freed, for those of base character don\u2019t cross to the far shore. Seized by craving,  <j>attached to precept and observance, they practice rough and fervent mortification <j>for a hundred years. But their minds are not properly freed, for those of base character don\u2019t go to the far shore. Someone who\u2019s fond of conceit can\u2019t be tamed, and someone without immersion can\u2019t be a sage. Living negligent alone in the wilderness, they can\u2019t cross beyond Death\u2019s dominion.\u201d \u201cHaving given up conceit, serene within oneself, with a good heart, everywhere free; living diligent alone in the wilderness, they cross beyond Death\u2019s dominion.\u201d","title":"A Splinter","tradition":"Samyutta Nikaya","translated_text":null,"word_count":521}